Fence-making machine.



No. 628,253. Patented luly 4, |899..

M. D. PENDERGAST'. J. NI. WHIDDEN. FENCE MAKING MAcHmE.'

n (Applicein ma .my 5, 189s.) (No el.) Il Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 628,253. Patented Iuly 4, i899. M. D. `PENDERI=`|AST J. M. WHIDDEN.

` FENCEMMAKING MACHINE.

4 (Application filed July 5, 1898.) N0 M0dl n sheets-sheet 2.

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Nn. 628,253.,y Patented .luly 4,1899. M. D. PENDERGAST J. M. WHIDDEN.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led July 5, X898.) (N0 Model- Il Sheets-Sheet 3.

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Patented July 4, |899. M. D. PENDENGAST & J. M. wNmnEN.

FENcE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application med July 5, 1898.)

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(No Model.)

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fb WM 6MM/T Patented July 4.1899. M. D. PENUERQASI &, J. M. wHmDEN.

FENGE. IMA-KIN@ MACHIN E.

(App1ica1ziom filed July 5, 1898.) ("0 "Mem n sheets-snaai s.

Patented July 4, |899. M. D. PENDERGAST J. M. WHIDDEN.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 1,898.)

ll Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

THE mams Pneus oo.. Pnoaurno., wAswN'uToN. n. c

No. 628,253. Patented luly 4, |899.- M. D. PENDERGAST & J. M. WHIDDEN.

'Fence MAKING momma.

(Application fxed .my s, 189e.)

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No. 628,253; Pmn'wdy July 4, i399..

M. n. PENDERGAST & .1. M. wHlnnEN.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led July 5, 1898.) (No Model.) Il Sheets-Sheet 8.

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No. 628,253., Patented july 4, |899. M. D. PENDERGAST &. J. M. WHIDDEN.

FENCE MAKINL MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 1898.)

Il Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

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Patented luly 4, |899. M. D. PENDERGAST & J. M. WHIDDEN.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

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N0. 628,253. y `Patented luly 4, |899. g

M. D. PENDERGAST & J. M. WHIDDEN.

lFENCE MAKING MACHINE.

(Appucacimr memn'ny s, 189s.)

(No Model.) Il Sheets-Sheet Il.

TN: Nonms PETERS oo., PnoToLlrHc, wnmNGmN. D c.

`(UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

MAURICE D. PENDERGAST, OE IIUTCIIINSON, AND JAMES M.- wIIIDDEN, OE sT. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AssIGNoRs, BY DIRECT AND MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS,- To JUDITI-I M. PENDERGAST, oE IIUTCIIINsoN,MINNESOTA.

FENCE-IVIAKIN'Gl MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION 'frmiagpart of Letters raam No. 628,253, dated .my 4, 1899.

To @ZZ whom. t may concern:

Be it known that we, MAURICE D. PENDER- GAST, residing at Hutchinson, in the county of McLeod, and JAMES M. WIIIDDEN, resid'- ing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in v Fence-Making Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide I5 an efficient machine for producing a wire fence of the kind disclosed in the United States patent issued to Maurice D.Pendergast, of date January 4,1898, under No. 596,538.

The machine herein disclosed is a powerdriven automatic machine. Some of the features of the invention, however, would be capable of use in a hand-machine.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, and defined in theclaims.

n In the said drawings like notations refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a diagram view illustrating the disposition of the wires with respect to each other as they would appear before being twisted together to form the fence. Fig. 2 is a diagram view intended to illustrate the action of the fence and the wires as they appear related to each other when the fence is being made. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with some parts broken away and others removed, the loop-wires only being shown in position thereon.v Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 5 is a vertical crosssection through a part of the machine approximately on the line 2105 005 of Fig. 3, with some parts removed and others broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective, showing shipper-lever and trip-rod forming part of the reversingdrive for the traveling carriers which dispose the loop-wires. Fig. 7 is a similar View showing kthe counterweighted lever which cooperates with the shipper-fork shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a View, partly in Application filed July 5, 1898. :Serial No. 685,106. (No model.)

Iside elevation and partly in section, with some portions broken away and others re moved, illustrating on a larger scale the mechanism at the central part of the machine as it appears in Fig. A. Fig. 9 is a detail showing some of the same parts shown in Fig. 8, but with the master-wheel removed to expose the mate wheel, which cooperates therewith, and some of the part-s broken away. Fig. 10 is a detail showing one of the twisterholders in side elevationv detached. Fig. 11 is a'viewofthe same in vertical section on the line as of Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is a detail showing the driving-arm, which reverses the motion of the mate wheel, in side elevation, detached. Fig. 13 is a detail in side elevation, showing an arm, which is keyed to the rock-shaft shown in Figs. S and 9, detached. Fig. 14 is a detail of the loose rocker-arm detached, which is mounted on the rock-shaft, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for cooperation with the members shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Fig. 15-is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, with some portions broken away and others removed, showing some of the same mechanism as in Fig. 8, together with some additional parts, but with the twister-holders as they would appear at the limit of their releasing action in full lines and in an intermediate position in dotted lines. Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line w16 0:16 of Fig. 8, with some parts in elevation and some parts broken away. Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 0017 0017 of Fig. 15. These two views, Figs. 16 and 17, show the same parts, but in different positions. Fig. 18 is a detail of the trip for the master-wheel detached. Figs. 19 to 24, inclusive, are diagram views illustrating the reverse-motion and diiferential drives for the twisters. Fig. 25 is a detail in perspective, showing one of the holders of what may be called the side or marginal wire twisters as distinguished from the others,which may be called the loopwire twisters or stay-twisters. Fig. 26 is a detail in section, illustrating one of the twisters carried by the holders, one of which is shown in Fig. 25. Fig. 27 is a detail in section, approximately on the line m27 wof Fig. 3, illustrating the feed-clamp for the fence. Fig. 28 is a vertical section crosswise ofthe machine, approximately on the line x28 m28 of Fig. 3, with some parts removed and others broken away, the twisters being sectioned through their mouths in twistingposition. Fig. 29 is a detail in longitudinal section lengthwise of the machine,approximately on the irregular line :15293329 of Fig. 23. Fig. 30 is a view, partly in diagram, partly in plan, and partly in horizontal section, through the twisters for illustrating the drawing action permitted therebyon the stays when the twist is being made. Fig. 3l is a detail in side elevation, showing one of the expansible twisters detached. Fig. 32 is a vertical section on the line 0532 of Fig. 31. Fig. 33 is a section through a pair of the expansible twisters on the line m33 of Fig. 3l. Fig. 34 is a vertical cross-section through the machine, approximately on the line 10340034 of Fig. 3. Fig. 35 is a View, partly in rcarelevation and partly in vertical section, showing the winding-up reel. Fig. 36 is a section on the line x36 m36 of Fig. 35. Fig. 37 is an inside elevation of one of the reel-heads detached. Fig. 3S is a detail in vertical section on the line x33 x38 of Fig. 34 for showing the pawl-and-ratchet drive applied to the driven member of the coperating pair of delivery-rolls at the foot of the machine, and Figs. 30 and 40 are diagram views illustrating some of the driving connections.

The construction and action of the machine can be best understood by first calling attention to the product and the primary disposition of the wires for producing that product, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Using the same terms as were employed in the abovenoted Pendergast patent, No. 596,538, the wires l and 2, which take such disposition as to form the vertical stays of the fence when the wires are properly twisted together, were in said patent called the loop-wires. The intermediate wires 3, embraced by the loopwires and securely held thereby when the loop-wires are twisted into stays, were in said patent called the filling wires or cables, as they are of cable form, and the marginal wires 4, to which the horizontal sections of the loopwires l and 2 are locked when the said parts are twisted together, as shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 to G, inclusive, of said prior patent, were therein called the lock-wires.

By inspecting the diagram Fig. lit will be seen that the two loop-wires 1 and 2 alternately change places at t-he top and bottom of the fence in the horizontal sections of the loops. Otherwise stated, they extend crosswise of the filling-wires alternately in opposite directions and embrace the said fillingwires 3 between the vertical sections of the loops. The lock-wires 4 extend parallel and near to the horizontal sections of the loopwires. By this disposition the Vertical sections of the loop-wires are brought into position to permit the same to be twisted together between the filling-wires and the horizontal sections of the loop-wires to be twisted to the lock-wires 4.

It should further be noted that the twists applied to the vertical sections of the loopwires to form the vertical stays of the fence are in opposite directions for adjacent twists. Otherwise stated, the twists alternate. Moreover, it may be further noted that the spaces between the filling -wires differ from each other in the Vertical direction, or, otherwise stated, the lower strands of the fence are closer together than the upper strands. It is therefore necessary to give a greater number of twists to the loop-wires at the wider spaces. Hence differential drives are required for the twisters, as will later appear.

It must also be obvious tliatwlien the twists are applied to the loop-wires for forming the vertical stays of the fence a draw will be produced thereon, resulting in shortening the loops to the height shown in the finished fence. In other words, the stay is shorter than the vertical sections of the untwisted loops. In this machine sufficient twisters are provided for making all of the twists simultaneously. Hence provision must be made for the said shortening or drawing action on the vertical sections of the loop when the twists are being made. It is also desirable that the draw should be distributed as evenly as possible among thc different spaces or, more accurately stated, throughout the entire length of the stays. To accomplish these results, the twister most centrally located is taken as the base for the draw and is nonexpansible. The other twisters which operate on the vertical sections of the loop-wires to form the vertical stays of the fence are so constructed as to be expansible and contractible.

In the diagram View Fig. 2 the notation for distinguishing the individual wires above noted is preserved for the loop-wires l and 2 and the lock-wires 4 only up to the time that they are twisted together and their individuality lost as the fence is formed. The vertical stays resulting therefrom are marked with the numeral 5 in the fence, and the marginal or top and bottom cables resulting therefrom are marked with the numeral G. The llingcables 3 never change their form and are marked with the same numeral 3 throughout.

The machine will now be described. The main frame of the machine and such of the fixed parts projecting therefrom as it may be necessary to note will be marked with the reference-letter a and the powers thereof. Bearings and other such obvious parts will not be noted by reference-letters unless desirable in order to locate and distinguish some of the moving parts.

The wire-supplying amd fence-feeding dccfices.-The upper member l of the two loopwires is shown as being unwound from a spool l, suitably supported from some over- IOO head structure by a hanger 11 or otherwise. The lower member 2 of the pair of loop-wires is shown as being unwound from a spool 2a, journaled in a support 211, fixed to the iioor or other part of the building below the working deck of the machine. (See Fig. 4.) The filling-cables 3 and the lock-wires 4 are also' unwound from suitable spools (marked with the common numeral 7) shown in Fig. 4 as turning on spindles S, rising from a fixed support 9, suitably spaced apart from the head of the machine. The filling-wires 3 and the lock-wires 4 pass iirst between sets of sheaves 19, arranged three high on suitable supporting-brackets a' at the head end of the machine. The apex member of these three sheaves 19 would in practice be mounted for vertical adjustment on its supporting-bracket a for varying the tension between the three sheaves 19. These sets of three sheaves 19 serve to straighten the wires and subject the same to suitable tension. Hence they may be called the tension and straightening devices. From the sets of sheaves 19 the filling-wires 3 and the lock-wires 4 become subject to a pair of drums 19192, passing under the drum 19 and over the top of the larger drum 192. These drums serve to equalize the pull from the spools when the fence is fed forward and prevents slack in said wires on the fencegside of said drums. The said pair of drums 19 192 may, therefore, be conveniently called the equalizers. They afford such a large amount of friotional surface for action on said filling-wires 3 and lock-wires 4 that the said wires cannot slip, or, otherwise stated,will'only unwind from their supplyingspools 7 with a positive feed equal to the forward step of feed movement given to the finished fence.

From the equalizing-drums 19' 192 the filling-wires 3 and the lock-wires 4 extend directly to the delivery-rollers 193 194, located at the foot of the machine. The said rollers 193 191 are rubber-faced and located one directly over the other. The wires 3 and 4 pass over the top of the upper roller 193 and then back between the two rollers and out under the' lower roller 194 to the winding-up reel p p', &c,the details of which will be later described. It is suicient to note at this time that by the above disposition of the wires 3 and 4 the fence is held taut in whatever position it may be moved under its feed devices. This fact also permits that portion of the fence which is wound upon the reel to be severed from the other part remaining held by the machine,

as will later more fully appear. The said two delivery-rollers 193 b1 are geared together by spur-wheels 195, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 34. They therefore turn in opposite directions. On the hub of the gear-Wheel195, fixed to the shaft of the upper delivery-roller 193, is a ratchet-wheel 196with which engages a retaining-pawl 197, pivoted to a part of the fixed framework, as best shown in Fig. 3. The shaft of the upper member of said deliveryaction takes place.

rollers 193 extends outward beyond the machine-frame at both ends and is provided with ratchet-wheels 197%, fixed thereto, and sprocketwheels 198, loose thereon. The sprocket-wheels 198 have on their profile faces, adjacent to the ratchets 197%, pawls 199, which engage with the ratchet-wheels 197% for turning the deliveryrollers forward under the feeding action on the fence. This construction will of course permit the sprockets 19s to turn backward on their supporting-shaft, while the deliveryrollers are held stationary under the coperation of the retaining ratchet-and-pawl devices 196 19"'. On the loose sprockets 198 and cooperating idle sprockets 191", located on the framework a considerable distance farther inward toward the center of the machine, as best shown in Fig. 3, are mounted a pair of chains 1911. To the said chains 1911 are fixed arms 1912, projectingfrom a plate 1913, extending crosswise of the machine and over which the fence passes. On account of its function, to be presently noted, the plate 1913 may be called the base-plate of the fence-clamp. The said base-plate 1913 is provided at its opposite ends with upwardly-projecting short standards 1914, (best shown in Fig. 27 ,)in which standards is mounted a rock-shaft 1915. To the rockshaft 1915 are fixed a` series of eccentric cams 1916 for clamping the strands of the fence against the' base-plate 1913 during the time the feed movement takes place. The rock-shaft 1915 is reinforced by a brace yoke or bar 1911, fixed to the upper ends of said standards 1911 directly over the shaft and provided at suitable intervals with downwardly-projecting portions 1918, which bear on the shaft 1915 between the eccentrics 19111, thereby preventing the springing of the shaft when the clamping The outer ends of the base-plate 1913 are provided with tenons 1919, which work in guideways 1920, shown as formed by the coperation of the top rails of the machine-frame and angular guide-bars 1921, fixed to said rails, as best shown in Figs. 27 and 29. The rock-shaft 1915 is provided at its opposite ends with crank-arms 1922, pivotally connected to the upper ends of levers 1923, which are pivoted to the base-plate1913, as best shown in Figs. 27 and 29, and are connect-ed by pitmen 1924 to wrist-pins 1915, adjustably securable for any desired throw in radial slots 1916 of gear-wheels 16, carried by a counter-shaft 17, which may be conveniently called the ICO . feed-shaft of the machine. This feed-shaf t Y able source by a belt (not shown) which engages with a pulley 1l on the rear end of the shaft 12, as shown in Figs. 39 and 40. The

main driving-shaft 12 is provided with a pair of spur-gears 13, which engage with corresponding spur-gears 14 on intermediate studshafts 15 as best shown in the diagram view Fig. 40. The spur-gears 14 of the interme- Ram diate shafts 15 engage with the large spurwheels 1G on the counter-shaft 17. These wheels 16 carry the wrist-pins Z125, which are connected to pitmen Z121 for operating the rock-shaft of the fence-clamp, -as hitherto noted, and as best shown in Figs. 2f) and 40. The feed-shaft 17 is therefore in constant motion. At each rotation of the gear-wheels 1G which operate the pitmen i121 the fenceclamp is given a complete reciprocation lengthwise of the machine in its guideways Z120. If we assume the normal position of the clamp to be as shown in Figs. 3, 27, and 20, the feed actions may be readily understood. Under the continued movement of the pitmau-driving gear-wheels 16 the first thing done will be to operate the rock-shaft Z115, thereby throwing the eccentric cams Z116 downward for cooperation with the base-plate Z113..

to clamp the fence. Then under the continued movement of the wheel 1G the clamp will be carried rearward, taking the fence therewith to the rearmost limit of the clamps travel or until the wrist-pins pass the center, and as quick as the pitmen begin `to move in the opposite direction the rock-shaft will be turned upward, thereby freeing the eccentrics Z11G from the fence and the baseplate Z113, thus releasing the fence. Under the continued movement of the wheel 1G the clamp will be restored or returned over the fence to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. Under the rearward movement of the clamp and the chains l1, to which the clamp is attached, the delivery-rollers were operated bythe said chains through the pawland-ratchet drives to move the same forward for taking up the slack and cooperating in the feed movement of the fence. Then on the release of the clamp and the return of the clamp and chains the loose sprockets l1? will turn backward, while the retaining ratchet-and-pawl devices 11" 11T will remain Awhere set and hold the fence taut, as hitherto noted. During this time that the fenceclamp makes its forward and return motion the loop-wires l and 2 are properly disposed with respect to the filling and lock wires, the twists are made, and the twisters are released from the fence under the action of the part-s which will now be described. It will be convenient, however, to first note a pair of constantly-running counter-shaftswhich receive motion from the primary drivingshaft. At its forward end the said main shaft 12 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 1S, connected by chain 19 with a small sprocket 2O on a counter-shaft 21, located at the center ofthe machine at a dip in the frame, as best shown in Fig. 4. This shaft 2l runs constantly and, through mechanism which will later be described, intermittently operates the master-wheel member in the drive for the twisters. On the said primary driving-shaft 12 is also fixed a sprocket 22, connected by a chain 23 (best shown in Figs. 3 and 40) to a sprocket 2l on a counter-shaft 25, located on the forward-projecting angle of the machine-frame. From the shaft 25, which is in constant motion, the traveling carriers, which properly dispose the loopwires, receive an intermittent motion through a suit-able drive, which willbe described under the next heading.

The Zoop-forming mechcm`.s'm.-'llhe loopwires l and 2 pass directly from their unwinding-spools to the guide-sheaves c of a pair of traveling carriers c and c2. The sheaves c are in pairs at the rear end of each carrier, and the loop-wires pass between the said sheaves. Of the two traveling carriers c and c2 the member c is fixed to the upper running section of an endless chain or belt c3 and the 'other member c2 is fixed to the under running section of said chain or belt c3. The upper carrier c is mounted for sliding movement on a parallel pair of guiderods c4 c, spaced apart from each other and extending crosswise of the machine, and the lower carrier c2 is 4similarly mounted on auother similar pair of guide-rods c6 c7, located directly below the guide-rods c4 and c5. A true guiding action is thus secured for the traveling carriers c and c2, with the same mounted to move simultaneouslyin opposite directions erosswise of the machine under the mot-ion of the chain c3. The sprocketchain c3 is mounted on sui-table sprockets e8, carried at the rear ends of short shafts c, disposed lengthwise of the machine. One of these shafts e9 carries at the forward end thereof a beveled gear c1", which can be made to engage with either -member of a pair of clutch-faced beveled gears c, which are loose on a cross-shaft c, supported in a bearingbracket a2 rising from the main frame, as best shown in Fig. 5. Between the clutchfaees of said gears c11 is mounted the shifting memberc13 of the clutch, which is splined to the shaft and provided with double faces for engaging with either of said gears when shifted to opposite extremes. The shaft c12 carries at its inner end a sprocket-wheel 014, which is connected by a chain 015 to the sprocket c16 on the constantly-running counter-shaft 25, which is keptin constant motion. A trip-rod cliextends crosswise of the Inachine, as best shown in Fig. 5, and is provided with a pair of collars c, adjustable thereon and adapted to be secured theretoin any desired position by set-screws el. The lower member of the two traveliu g carriers-to wit, the member cQ-is provided with a perforated arm 020, which works onsaid trip-rod c17 between the collar 018. The trip-rod C17 at one end is pivotally connected to the crank-arm of a rock-shaft 021, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The rock-shaft 021 has fixed thereto the ship' per-fork c2?, which acts on the shifting clutch member cl3. A counterweighted lever o23 is loosely pivoted on the rock-shaft 031 and is provided with a lug c2, which Works between a pair of jaws c25, radially projecting from the hub of the shipper-fork 022,' as best shown in ICO IIO

Figs. 5, 6, and 7. The weighted lever o23 has feet C26 of such length in respect to its pivotal center that one foot will rest on a trip plate or table 02T when the lever is in lthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 5. vWhen this triptable omis pulled out from under the weighted lever, the said lever will drop under the action of gravity into ,the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and thereby throw the shifting member C13 of the clutch into engagement with the outer member of the pair of double gears cu. If the pivoted lever has stood on the other foot, the weighted lever would fall in the opposite direction and throw the clutch member into engagement with the inner member of said beveled gear ou, and thereby driving the shaft clzin the opposite direction. At the opposite limits of the travel of the carriers c and c2 the arm 020 of the lower carrier c2 will strike one or the other of the collars c on the trip-rod 017, and therebyshift the clutch into its open or central position and bring the weighted lever into an inclined position on one side of the vertical line, so as to be in position to become operative .to shift the clutch into engaging position when the table 027 is drawn out from under the foot of the weighted lever 023. The table 0271s under tension or strain to assume its normal position under thefeet of the weighted lever. As shown, it is under tension from a spring c2754, but at the proper time may be pulled out against the tension of said spring through connections which will be now noted. As shown best in Fig. 8, the said trip-table 027 is provided with a stem 028, which extends through fixed parts of the framework, spaced apart from each other, one of which serves as a base of reaction for the spring 027%, encircling the stem, and is marked 029. The rear end of the stem c2g is notched or of hook shape and is engaged by the forward end of a hook-rod 03, which extends to a rocker 031. -The rocker 031 is fixed to a rock-shaft 032, j ournaled in the framework of the machine near the center of the same, directly below the twisting mechanism, and the said rock-shaft 032 is provided with 'a crankarm 033, which is connected by a rod 034 to the upper end of a pivoted cam-lever 035. (Best shown in Fig. 15.) This cam-lever 035 is provided with a roller-stud 036, which engages in a cam-channel @37, formed on the profile face of a cam C38, which is fixed to the feed-shaft A17, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 40. By these connections a positive rocking motion is imparted to the shaft G32 at the proper time. The hook-ended rod C30, which engages with the hook end of the trip-table stem 028, rides over a cam-lug 039 on the bracket G29 and is subject to a spring c4, tending to hold the same down against the said cam-lug. By the action of this cam-lug 039 the hook-ended rod C30 is disengaged from the table-stem at the proper time, thereby permitting the spring 027% to instantly restore the said trip-table to its normal position under the feet of the weighted lever o23. Through the driving connections above noted it is obvious that the traveling carriers c and'c2 will receive an intermittent reverscly-reciprocating motion at the proper timeand that they will come to a stop and remain stationary for a proper interval at the opposite limits of their travel. This interval of rest-permitted to the traveling carriers c and c2 at the opposite limits of their travel is sufficient to afford time for the twisters to act and the fence to be moved forward one step under its intermittent feed hereinbefore described.

As the loop-wires are carried across the machine under the action of the traveling carriers c and c2 they are stretched around suitable corner-studs f, which, as shown, are in the form of rollers carried on the upper ends of plungers f', as best shown in Figs. 3 and 28 to 30. The plungers f are mounted in suitable guide-keepers f2, which are formed integral with rocker-plates f3, pivoted to the frame of the machine, as shown at f4 in Fig. 29. The crank-arms of these rocker-plates f3 have attached thereto depending screw-ended draw-boltsf5, which work through swivels f6, and are provided with springsf, which react between said swivels f6 and thumb-nuts f8, working on the ends of the draw-bolts and serving as a means toadj ust the tension of said springs. In virtue of this mounting of said corner-studs f they will yield inward toward the center of the fence at the time when the drawing action thereon takes place under the action of the twisters on the loop-wires to form the stays of the fence, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2S. When that drawing action occurs, the rockers f3 will turn on their pivots f4 against the tension of the springs f7. This yielding action is essential,or otherwise something would have to break. The plungers f', which carry the corner-studs f, are connected by rods )"9 to crank-arms flo on a rock-shaft f, extending crosswise of the machine. The shaft f is provided with another crank-arm fw, having connected thereto a cam-actuated rod fls for imparting a positive up-and-down motion to the said cornerstuds f at the proper times. As shown, the rod f13 is provided at its rear end with an elongated slot f1, through which passes the feed-shaft 17. On the shaft 17 is fixed a camwheel fw, having a profile cam-channelfl, which is engaged by a stud-roller f17 on the cam-rod fm. Under the action of this camwheel fw and the connections therefrom the said corner-studs f will be withdrawn downward at the proper time to release the fence after the tw'ists have been made and permit the forward feed motion of the fence. Instantly after the4 fence begins to move forward the corner-studs f will again be thrown upward, so as to be in position to engage the loop-wires when the traveling carriers are started into action. In this connection it should be noted that the traveling carriers c and c2 pass outward beyond the corner-studs and so remain in that stationary IOO position until the fence is started forward by the feed mechanism. Hence under the feed movement on the fence the loop-wires will be pulled forward outside the cornerstuds; It follows that when the carriers move across the machine the studs will intercept the wires at the proper points to form the corners for the loops, as hitherto noted and as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 2S of the drawings. The carriers start immediately after the fence begins its feed-step.

T716 twisting 111ec71a111`s111.-'l`he stay-twisters comprise small gear-wheels 71 and removable cores 71', which are secured to the wheels 71 for rotary movement therewith by keys 712, as best shown in Figs. 31 and 32. The wheels 71 and the cores 712 are radially slotted to afford registering mouths 714 for engaging with the wires. Moreover, all of the twisters have cores with the exception of thev central twister and are constructed to be expansible and contractible. To this end the cores of said expansiblc twisters are free for a sliding movement lengthwise of the wheels 71 and are normally held in their innermost position or with their faces in line with the faces of the wheels under spring tension. As shown, the ends of the cores 71 facing the central or base member are engaged -by slotted washers 711, having attached thereto draw-rods 716, extending through said cnds of the cores into open-ended recesses e and provided with spiral springs 711, reacting between the nuts of the draw-rods and the base ends of said recesses. The springs 717 will thus hold the cores in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 30, until the draw begins and then permit the cores to yield in the direction of the draw, as required, as shown in Fig. 33. This action is obvious from an inspection of Figs. 30 to 33, inclusive.' All of the twisters which operate on the loop-wires to form the vertical stays of the fence are mounted in holders 712, which are keyed fast to a rock-shaft 712, extending erosswise of the machine. The holders 71S have cap-sections 7110, which are removably fitted to the outer end portions of the holders proper and when in position serve to hold the twisters in proper working position on the holders, as may be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive. The holders proper, 71S, and the capsections 7110 are provided with 1iaws 7111, spaced apart to afford flaring or bell-shaped mouths 7112 for registration with the mouths 714 ofthe twisters to engage and release the wires. A pair of shafts 71127114 extend through all the holders 71S, which act on the loop-wires to form the vertical stays. These two shafts 7112 and 7114 are provided with spur-gears 7115, as shown in Fig. 3, which mesh with each other and cause the said shafts to turn in opposite directions. Each of these shafts is provided with half as many intermediate gears 7116 as there are twisters to be operated. The intermediate gears 711G on each of said shafts engage with alternate members of the twisters.

Hence the adjacent twisters turn in opposite directions, as required, to give the reverse twists to the stays between successive spaces. Moreover, the intermediate gears 71.111 and the cooperating twisters are so proportioned in size or number of teeth as to secure differential movements to the different twisters, as shown in the diagram views, Figs. 19 to 21. This is to impart a greater number of twists to the loopwires in the wider spaces as compared with the narrower spaces. On

this particular machine, as may be seen by reference to said diagram views, Figs. 19 to 24, provision is made for three differentials in the number of twists. On the said rockshaft 719 are loosely mounted a pair of wheels side by side, which have the relation of master and mate. The master-wheel is marked 711T and its mate 7112. The positions and relations of these wheels to each other and the other parts are best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and 15 to 17. rlhe mate wheel is constantly in mesh with a pinion 711% on the shaft 7112. The master-wheel 7117 is normally in engagement with a pinion 7119 on the constantly-running counter-shaft 21. The master-wheel is a spur-gear and is provided with a pivoted section 7121. This section 7121 is subject to the action of the spring 7122, tending to throw said section into its outermost position for completing the spur-gear and maintaining connection with the pinion 7111. The pivoted scction 7121 is provided on its profile face with a stud-roller 71.21%, which at the proper time in the revolution of the masteiewheel will contact with the pivoted member or jaw 7123 of a two-fingered or two-jawed trip 7122, which is mounted as a collar on the shaft 2l. Between the pivoted jaw 7123 and the fixed jaw 7124 of said trip 7120 is placed a spring 7125, tending to separate the fingers. The whole trip 712o is free to turn on the shaft 2l. XVhen the studroller 7121V= first strikes the upper end of the pivoted finger 7123, the trip 7120 will be rocked on the shaft 2l, and simultaneously therewith will yield against the spring 7125 until the finger 7123 nds a bearing on the hub of the trip 7120. In the meantime the stud-roller 712% will ride up the finger ,7123, and thereby the pivoted section 7121 of' the master-wheel will be thrown radially inward or from the position shown in Figs. 8 and 16 into the positions shown in Figs. 15 and 17. By this action the masterwheel will be thrown out of connection with the pinion 7112, and certain other results will follow under the control of that pivoted section 7121 in Virtue of certain details, which will now be named. The free end of said pivoted section 7121 of the master-wheel has two lateral projections 7121" and 7130, and when the said section is in its outermost position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 1G, the lateral projection 7129 will engage with the profile shoulder 7131 on the mate wheel 7118, thereby interlocking or coupling together the said master and mate wheels for common movement, 'as best shown in Figs. 8 and 1G. \Vhen, however,

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the said pivoted section 7121 is forced inward by the trip 7120 into the position shown in Figs. 15 and 17, the lateral projection 7120 will come into a position to clear the profile shoulder 7101 for a reverse motion to permit the natural reaction orlimited unwinding of the twist. This reverse motion is produced by means which will now be noted. The mate wheel has a ratchet 7123 on one of its profile faces. On the rock-shaft 710 is mounted a pawl-carrying lever 7134. (Shown detached in Fig. 12.) This pawl-lever 7134 is clamped to the shaft 719 under sufficient friction to remain where set, but sufficiently light to permit the same to move on the shaft when required. To the upper end of the lever 71,34 is pivoted a pawl 7105, notched on its head to afford a pair of jaws 7120. The heel of the pawl overreaches a laterally-projecting stop-lug 7127, as best shown in Figs. 9 and 12, to prevent the pawl from falling unduly far backward. vOn the rockshaft 710, adjacent to the lever 7124, is loosely mounted a rocker-arm 71,28. (Shown detached in Fig. 14.) This rocker-arm 713S is provided with a lateral stud 7132, which plays between the jaws 713G of the pawl 7135, as best shown in Fig. 9. Hence by pulling downward on the rocker-arm 710s by means of the'arm 041 on the shaft 032 and the connecting-link 042 the pawl 7135 may be made to engage with the teeth of the ratchet 711"3 on the mate wheel 711s,and thereby to turn the mate wheel backward on the rock-shaft 710, while the master wheel 7117 stands still. This is done during the initial downward movement of said rocker-arm 7138 and occurs directly after the trip is effected and the master-wheel is brought to a deadstop. Then under the continued downward movement of the rocker-arm 712S the same will come in contact with a crank-arm 7140, (shown detached in Fig. 13,) which is keyed to the rock-shaft 710 alongside of the rocker 7128 and provided with a laterally-projecting end fitted with a set-screw 7141, which affords a means for adjusting the point of contact between said crank-arm and said rocker. As quick as the rocker 713S comes in contact with the crank-arm 7140, fixed to the rock-shaft, the shaft itself and all the holders 718, together with the train of gears carried thereby, will rock together, and thereby shift the parts from the position shown in Fig. S to the position shown in Fig. 15. By the return movement of the mate wheel 7118 on the rock-shaft 710, as above described, all the twisters will through the trains of gears operated by the mate wheel be returned to normal position in respect to the jaws of the holders, thereby bringing the mouths of the twisters into registration with the mouths of the holders for releasing the wires. Hence when the rockerarm 712S begins to act on the crank-arm 7140, and thereby to rock all the holders 718, the twisters and the holders will readily free themselves from the wires and the mouths of the twisters and the holder will remain in proper registration ready for rengagement with the lnext set of loop-wires on the return to the position shown in Fig. 8 after the fence has been thrown forward one step, which occurs, of course, while the holders are in their released position. The side twisters are also on the same rock-shaft 719 and are operated simultaneously with the stay-twisters, as above described, but differ from the stay holders and twisters in certain details only, which will be presently noted.

In the twisting action the mouths of allthe twisters are rotated past the mouths of the holders. They will pass by'different distances according to their respective differentials in gearing. Then the unwinding occurs, to permit the `natural reaction of the twists all of the twisters will be rotated back to the proper positions for causing the mouths 714 thereof to register with the mouths 7112 of the holders. This is necessary, of course, to give the free release from the twisted wires when the holders are rocked upward. Under the rocking motion of the holders 71s with the shaft 710, as above described, the entire train of gears carried by the holders will remain in the position at which they stood when the release occurred, or, otherwise stated, in the position which they stood when the loose rocker 718 cameinto contact with the set-screw 7141 of the fixed crank-arm 7140. The entire train being carried by the holders 71S, the respective members thereof will not move in relation to each other under the rocking motion of the shaft 710 and holders 718, and hence when the holders and twisters are again lowered at the proper times to grab the'next set of loop-wires the mouths 714 of the twisters will be in registration with the mouths 7112 of the holders. The master-wheel 711T remains locked to the frame or in its stationary position until the holders have again been thrown down and the next set of loop-wires have been grasped by the twisters, at which time the trip 7120 will be rocked backward on the shaft 7121, so as to bring its finger 7122 out from under the stud-roller 7122, thereby permitting the pivoted section 7121 of the master-wheel to be thrown outward by its spring 7122, reestablishing the working relation of the masterwheel to the pinion 71,19 and coupling the mate to the master-wheel, as shown in Figs. 8 'and l5. To effect this release of the trip 7120, the said trip is provided with a depending arm 7142, which plays between a pair of stop-pins 71,42, projecting from the frame, as indicated in Fig. 15, and this trip-arm 7142 is provided with a lateral stud [144, adapted to be engaged by the hook end of a counterweighted lever 7145. The counterweighted lever 7145 is carried by the lower arm of the lever C31, keyed to the rock-shaft 032, which was hitherto noted IOO IIS

in connection with the trip-table pull-rod ci when ldescribing the trip mechanism for the traveling carriers c' and c2. The hook end of the counterweighted lever 71.4r is camshaped and adapted to strike a fixed pin 7b4 (shown in Figs. S and l5) for disengaging the lever 7i15 from the stud 7L14 of the triparm 7542 when the trip h2o has been moved snfiieiently far backward to pull the finger 7f3 out from under the stud-roller 7122. The recess of the hook is cam-shaped at its back to permit the stud 7L44 to rise out of said recess when the collar is rocked forward under the contact of the stud-roller WM with the trip-finger 7t23. The rocking motion on the shaft 032, as imparted thereto from the rod 034 and the other connections to the cam 038 on the feed-shaft 17 hitherto described, comes at the right time to effect this releasing action of the trip h2o.

Having regard tothe side twisters above noted as carried by the rock-shaft 7L and operated simultaneously with the stay-twisters, the constructions and relations thereof to the shaft 71,9 and to the lock-wires 4C and horizontal sections of the loopwires l and 2, 'upon which said side twisters act, may be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 3, 25, 2G, 28, and 29. The said side twisters are marked 7o and are in the form of beveled gears slotted to afford the mouths 7b4 for engagement with the wires and are provided with stems 7o', which fit into suitable bearingscats 7a2, provided in the ends of the holders 7a3, as best shown in Figs. 25 and 26. XVhen the parts are in working relation, the beveled gear-faces of the twisters 7.: engage with corresponding beveled gears 7a4, carried on lateral stud-shafts 757, projecting from the faces of the holders 7a3. The beveled gears 7J1 have formed on the same hub gears 755, which are operated from the proper members of tlie intermediate gears 71,1, carried by the lower member 7L13 of the pair of shafts 7L13 and 7i, which extend through the stay-holders hs. The holders 7a3 for the side twisters have jaws 7:.6, extending lengthwise of the holders for affording the mouths h12 to cooperate with the mouths 7# of the twisters above noted. The side twisters and their action maybe regarded as having been described in the description of the stay-twister mechanism. The side twisters are removed from the parts shown in Figs. S and 15.

All the parts of the machine have now been specified with the exception of the windingup reel and the parts which cooperate therewith to dispose of the fence after it has passed through the delivery-rollers b5 b4. rlhis reel and its immediately coperating parts fordisposing of the fence may, for distinction, be called the fencefshedding mechanism.

The shedding mechanism/. The'windingup reel (best shown in Figs. 4 and 34 to 37) is a collapsible reel and is made upv of a pair of heads p p and a series of trundles or staves 192193. The reel-head p' is fixed to a short shaft p4, free for rotary motion only. The other head p is fixed to the inner end of a short shaft p5, which is free for both a rotary and a sliding motion. The outer end of the shaft pi is taken hold of by a swivel p8, carried by a hand-lever p9 for sliding the said shaft p5. and the reel-head p whenever so desired. The reel-heads p and p are provided on their inner hubs with seats p10 and p11 for receiving the staves or t-rundles p2 pi. Of the said seats p10 and p the seats 7910 are of dovetailed shape, while the seats p11 are rectangular. The particular stave p2 is also dovetailed at its ends for cooperation with the dovetailed seats p10 in the hubs of the reel-heads. This dovetailed stave p2 is first entered into the seats p10, and the wires 3 and 4C are made fast thereto by engaging the same over buttons or studs p7 thereon. The other staves p3 are then placed in position within the seats p by a radial movement, and as the reel is wound the wires passing thereover will hold the same in working position. ln virtue of this construction it is obvious that when the fence-coil reaches its limit of size on the reel it may be readily removed therefrom by simply operating the hand-lever p9. rlhe outward movement of that lever p9 will withdraw the movable reel-head p from the reelstaves p2 and p3, allowing the latter to collapse and be readily removed from the interior of the coil. The staves are then replaced and the fence 4 reattached, and all is ready for the next coil. The reel-shafts p4 and p5 are both provided with a large spur-wheel p, fixed against sliding motion. These spurgears p engage with small spur-gears p12, carried on the outer ends of the frictionclutch members p13, which are loosely mounted on a constantly-running counter-shaft p15 for cooperation with the sliding clutch members p1", carried by said shaft. The shaft p15 receives motion from the primary drivingshaft l2 through-a chain p16, running over sprockets p17 and p13, located, respectively, the former on the primary shaft l2 and the latter on the clutch-shaft p15. The sliding clutch members p14 are subject to the action of bell-crank shipper-forks 131. (Best shown in Fig. 3l.) These shipper-forksp19 are pivoted at their elbows to suitable bearing-brackets aiprojecting inward from the machine-frame. The long arms of the shipper-forks p19 are pivotally connected together and to a common link p20, which depends from the central arm of a counterweighted bail p21, which is pivoted to the shaft of the lower member b4 of the delivery-roller. The bail p21 is also provided with a pair of arms p22 at its opposite ends, in which is journaled a tension or tightening roller p23to which the fence is subject as it leaves the delivery-rollers and passes to the winding-up reel. Under the action of the mechanism above described the windingup reel is automatically driven with an intermittent action, as required to wind up the fence, at each feed movement. Otherwise ILO IIO

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statedthe reel cooperates with the feed mechanism for the fence described in the early part of the specification. Normally and at all times while the fence is being held stationary the take-up roller p23 will act on the wires of the fence between the delivery-rollers and the winding-up reel and reinforce the clamping action of the delivery-rollers 713 and b1 to hold the fence taut. Vhen, however, the fence is fed forward by the fence-clamp and the delivery-rollers b3 714, as hitherto described under the heading Feed mechanism, the slack in the fence between the delivery-rollers and the reel thereby produced will permit the counterweighted bail p21 to drop, thereby throwing the long arms of the bell-crank shipper-forks p19 downward and causing the short arms thereof to shift the movable members p14 of the friction-clutches into working engagement with the loose members 1913, which carry the constantly-running gears 1912. Hence the reel will. thereby be immediately started into action and will continue to run until the fence is wound up sufficiently far to put on the coil the amount moved forward under the feed movement imparted to the fence by the fence-clamp and delivery-rollers. As quick as that occurs the counterweighted bail p21 will be brought back upward by the taut wires between the reel and the delivery-rollers, thus restoring the long arms of the bell-crank shipper-forks p19 into their uppermost position and opening the friction-clutches. This of course stops the reel. When the time comes for the removal of a coil of fence, the wires must of course be cut between the delivery-roller and the reel. The reel is then collapsed, the coil removed, the reel reassembled, the wires reattached, and all is again ready for action. In view of the special construction of the reel' hereinbefore described it is obvious that the coils or sections of the fence may be quickly shed and all the parts brought back to working position. This is done without stopping the machine.- As the fence is held taut by the delivery-rollers b3 and b1, the separation can take place and the coil be removed without interfering with the action of the other parts of the machine. This is an important advantage.

`Operation: All the parts of the machine have now been specified, treating the saine in groups, and the actions of the respective groups of mechanisms have been fully stated in connection with the detailed description of the parts. Hence it is thought that a brief statement of the general action with special reference to the timing of the different groups of mechanisms relative to each other will be sufcient. The driving connections must be properly proportioned to permit the traveling carriers to dispose the loop-wires and come to stationary position at the opposite limits of their travel during the time that the fence is being fed forward one step, or, otherwise stated,during ahalf-turn of the feed-shaft 17.

During the time that the fence is thus fed forward one step or a half-turn of the feedshaft 17 vthe master and mate wheels 711h1 and 7118 must stand idle and the holders 71B and 7c3 must remain in their released position, so asY to afford clearance for the movement of the fence. It follows that all the actions required from the twisters must take' place during the return or idle movement of the fence-clamp. By proportioning the driving connections in such a way that one complete revolution can be given to the master and mate wheels 71.11 and 711S during one-eighth turn of the feedshaft 17 all the different functions required from the twisting mechanisms may be secured and be distributed in respect tothe feed-shaft in Athe following manner: Assume the feed on the fence as the starting-point. Then during the first four-eighths of the turn of the feed-shaft 17 the fence will be clamped and fed forward one step by the fence-clamp. Immediately after the fence starts to move the trip-table 021 is pulled out by the rodl C30 from under the weighted lever o23, thereby starting the carriers c and c2 for disposing the loopwires. The corner-posts f had been previously pulled down to permit the fence to start and were immediately returned to normal position by the cam-wheel f1@ and its connections, so as to cooperate with the carriers c c2 for disposing the loop-wires during the feed movement of the fence. Otherwise stated, before the\feedshaft 17 had completed its first four-eighths turn .the loops had been formed and the carriers c and c2 had reached stationary positions at the opposite limits of their travel. During the fifth oneeighth part of the feed-shafts revolution the fenceclamp is released from the fence and the twister-holders are lowered to their limit, thereby grabbing the wires, and coincidently therewith the trip 712O is knocked out from under the roller h21% by the releasing-lever 7L, thereby throwing the master-wheel into gear with the pinion 7119 on the constantlyru nningcounter-shaft 21. During the next or sixth one-eighth part of the feed-shafts turn the said master and mate wheels 71,17 and 7118 make one complete revolution, thereby causing the twisters to make the twists in the wires,

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and when' this revolution is completed the master-wheel' is automatically tripped out of action and brought to a stationary position by the coperation of the stud-roller 7t2114 and the trip-lever 7123, as described. Under the seventh one-eighth turn of the feed-shaft 17 the rocker has and the pawl-lever h3* are pulled down from the f ull-line position shown in Fig. Sinto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, thereby reversing the motion on the twisters for permitting the natural reaction of the twists, and bringing all the twisters into such position that the mouths h4 thereof will register with the mouths 7112 of the holders. Then Linder the last or iinal one-eighth turn of the feed-shaft 17 the rocker H18, acting on the iiXed crank-arm 71.10, will rock the shaft 719, therebT 

